Harvester.



G. M. MGGORMICK.

HARVESTER.

APPL'mATIou Hmm JULY 10,1905.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

2 EHI.' ETS-BHE`1ST 1 Mrzes M .Mcm/mf A TTOHNE YS G. M. MQUUEMICX..

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

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INVENTOH WUNESSES Q/v 1.1. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. MCCORMIGK, OF LA JUNTA, COLORADO.

No. 913,421. Spec-mention ol' Lettera Patent. Patented Feb. 28, 1909.Application led July 10, 1808. Serial No. 442,883.

To all whom it 'may concern.' planatinn of my invention, it should be Beit known that I, Cremers M. McConi clearly understood that while thesaine is moli, a citizen of the United States, and a i particularlyuseful in connection with mziresident of La. Junto., in the county ofOtero chinos for inrvestng sugar beets, it cnn also 60 and StateofColorado, have invented a new he arlvnntngeously apilied to otherforms of and Improved lHarvester of which the folhui-vesters which empoy suitable toppers for lowing is a full, clear, and exact description.I removing the tolgs or leaves from beets and This invention relates toharvesters, and other roots i' tu eis- Tlie topper of my inmoreparticularly to machines for hnrvesti'eiitioii includes means forsevering the tops 65 io infr crops such as sugar beets and the like.from tlieroots, und at the sume time means pecitciillyl the inventionrelates to a beet for severing any portions of the tops which harvesterhaving a top er for removing the :1re m a depressed position, or whichlie' tops 0r 19M-eg of the ets, und including upon the ground. The partsof the topper menus for severing the leaves which lie 111'@ adlusmble,S0 that the device can be 1n i5 upon tb. ground as well iis the standingbeet regulated to Sever the tops roperly from tops from the roots` rootswhich proJect more or ess above. the n object. f the invention ig toprovide a groundt Furthermore, the topper pai-ts are harvester for beetsand the like, which inso resilieutly though firmly ssiulported, thatclude-s a simple and eicient topper for rethe mechanism :vill adjust itautomatic- 75 moving the tops and leav from the roots ally toiiuliirities ortho ground, and to before the latter are taken from thesoil by lllI'OW-S I1 the 11118, ln traveling Over a the plow or othermeans provided for the fieldpurpose. Referring more particularly to thedraw- A further object of the invention is to ings, 10 represents thehavestei' fram 30 provide a harvester having a topper which lwhich maybe of any common or refe-rre can be adjusted for different kinds ofvegeforni, and is supported upon wh s 11 and tation, sind to operate infields cultivated in 12. Thelatter constitute the steering wheels,various ways and in which the roots or and have the axle 13 ivotallysupporting tubers arent diierentde the the forward art of tiljieharvester frame. g5 -V 3o A still further object otptlie invention is toThe frame l0 as longitudinal side members provide a harvester having.:topper for re- 3 14 which are spacedJand between which is movin the topsor leaves m beets and the located the plow 15 y means of which the like,umich i: rcsliently, though firmly snpleete or other roots me dug up.The plow ported, so that it will automatically adjust has the beam 16pivotally secured to a suitp0 to allow for irregularities of the ablebracket 17, iositioned at the front of ground. the frame 10, an has theopposite end lo- The invention consists in the construction Gifted'between upi'i lits 1S, upon which it is and combination of parts to b'emore fully pivotcllgsu porte by means oi s. hanger describedhereinafterand particularly set 19'. iAL-j en whjee120 Serves for therinsing 95 40 forth in theeaiins. A Y or lowering of the plow, asnecessary. vReferenceisi to be hadI to the aeconi'pan A cross frame 21is located near the forfo a part of this'specilzif wird art ofthe.freine 10 und at the under eltionrhn w ich si' er characters of sideteofbl Ils; rigidlylsecuredbin plug, ven'iei'i 'cafe orrespo`," riding'f -i'n :an 'z' ije era steen -ienm' 4g races 100 45 views, and'ii whichyA A diiuble US- racket' 23gis secured to the lll Are luis a.side-elevation showing one" block? 21 by:ineans of bolts 24 or the like,

eniblimeit o' racket. 27 secured' eme ejection ishowingf fai, "rthcie'tolijimcns votpin 28. Abifun '-cimnism muri-g 'sin Ppe cited bei-nii wlilixiihuiebracit ci e n o.: ,c

vv ,are laterally y 48 which receives a bolt 49 cari-yin the plow andhas its sides 32 secured to the side anges 30 by means of pairs of links33. A stem 34 passes through u suitable opening in the top of the hunger31 and 1s movubly fastened between the sides ot the plow by means of :ipivofcd bracket', 35. A washer 36 is arranged upon the stem 34 and restsupon the top of the hunger. Allielical spring 3T is carried by the steinand is located between the hunger 36 and u nut 3S mounted upon asuitably threaded end of the ste-in. The s ring 37 tends normally toforce the hanger c ownward for a urpose which will appear more clearlyhereinafter.

Between tlie sides of the hanger, at the lower ends thereof, is secureda buse plate 39 having the centi-al portion upwardly disposed. The boselate is bifurcuted at the upwardly disp part 40, and at the bottom ateach side has ad'iistable runners 41 which are adapted to sli e alongthe round and to receive the tops of the roots erebetween. The runnersha ve slots 42 which receive bolts 43 carried by the base plate, andwhich serve adjustably to hold the runners in position. The forward endsor toes l-t of the runneis are preferably upiivardly dis- Cnttercarriers 45 are arranged above the buse plate at each side of the saineand have bolts 46 which are received by slots-4T in the sides of thehanger, and which permit the cutter carriers to be arranged in aplurality of positions. Each of the carriers has a slot a. C11'- cularcutter 50, so that the latter can held in ailurality of positions. Itwill be understoo that in this way the distance between the circularcutters can be varied as neces sary, and the cutter carriers can beraised or lowered corres ondingly to raise or lower the cutters.urthermore, the runners can oe adjusted laterally with respect to eachother to var the distances between the same. If so desire washers orshims can he placed between the runners and the bottom of the baseplate.

Cutter arms 51 are ivotally secured at the lower ends of the si e tl es30 and controlled by pivoted bars 52. The latter pass thro h slots 53 ofa late 54 mounted u pon the gm beam 16.l e bars have openings 55exethrough which are adapted to receive pins 66 to hold the bars 1n aplurality of 'tions Springs 57 are arranged upon the and abut againstthe underside of the late 54. The sp' aresecuredtothe gars and tendnormally to depress the same. The cutter arms 51 have the lower ends 58laterally and inwardly disposed. Each of the ends cairies a bolt 59 bymeans of which a bracket G0 which has a slot 61 to receive the bolt, issecured to o, cutter arm. The brackets 60 have downward! disposed bifimcations 6l, between whi are rotatably mounted circular cutters 62. Thelatter are arranged in substantially vertical position und are adaptedto travel along the ground to sever any leiivcs or vegetation lying u onthe sume. As the brackets 60 are adjustu le. the distance between thecutters (3Q can be varied as necessary. Helical springs G3 are arranigedbetween the side frame members 14 und tie side flanges of the member 29,and serve resiliently to center and sup ort the topper. The springs 37tend to gold the runners in engagement with the round as ilie harvestertravels along, and tie springs 57 perform a similar function for therotatab e or rolling cutters (52.

As the harvester moves along a row of sugar beets or the like, thecutters 62 pass at each side of the beet tops and sever an leaves orportions of the vegetation whic lie upon the ground. The tops arereceived between the runners 4l, and the cutter 50 severs the to s.These cutters are suitably adjusted an positioned for this purpose. 'lheplow subsequently digs up and removes the roots from which the to havealready been severed. lt will be un erstood that the topper iscontrolled by the plow, which can be raised or lowered as desired, butin the raised or inoperative position the plow holds the topper in asimi ar raised, inoperative position.

Having thus described niy invention, l claim as new and desire to secureby Letters aient l. `In u harvester of the class described, a fraincerro ed to travel upon the ound, a plow ivota ly mounted upon said:ironie and at' opted to be raised or lowered, means for holding saidplow in a plurality of positions, and a topper liexibl connected withsaid frame and controlled y said plow,said topper being, arranged toswing in a plurality of directions.

In a harvester of the class described, a frame adapted to travel uponthe ground, a. plow pivotally carried by said frame and ada ted to beraised or lowered, means for liol ing said plow in a lplurality ofpositions, u. topper secured to sai frame und arranged to swing in aplurality of directions, means operatively connectin said plow and saidtopper, wherebv sai topper is raised or lowered as sai plow is raised orlowered, and means for riliently holding said topper in tion.

3. In a harvester of the class described, n topper having a pair ofrotatable cutters ar ranged to travel u n the ground, and at angles withthe horlzontal, a nir of cutters arran ed substantially at riglit angleswith said st pair and means for resiliently holding all said cutters inposition.

4. In a harvester of the class described, a topper arranged to swnphm aplurality of directions, means for res 'ent-ly supporting suid topperand means for operatively connecting said topper to a part of theharvestiii mechanism, whereby said topper is contro led by the harvestinmechanism.

I. In a harvester of t ie class described, e topper having ispiicedrunners adapted to i'nvel upon the ground und to receive Plant topsilierelietiveen, critters Iidjiistal'ily uri'unged above said runners,and means for uoriniilly boldinpr mild runners in engagement with theground.

o. In ii liti-tivesiiir ol the class described, ,a friiine :uliiptedtotiuvel upon the ground, ii. ineinlier pivotully carried. by .said frume,ro-

tatabie cutters supported by said member4 and adapted to travel upon theground, menus for resiliently holding snid cutters in engagement withthe ground, runners` i1diipt ed to travel upon the ground and to recelveplnnt. tops therebetween, ixodcutters arranged :ibuve said runners, andmeans for normally holding said runners in engageiueiit with the ground.

T ln a harvester of. the (fl-(iss described, a piiir of eiittersarranged to travel upon the lground tit eiieh side of a row of plants,ysinicetl riiin'iers arranged behind said cutters und adapted to receivethe plant tops therebetween, fixed cutters ndjustably positioned :ibovesaid runners-and adapted to sever the pl-iut tops, und ineens forfiexibly supporting said first cutters and said' runners.

b'. In u harvester of the class described, u 4frame adapted to travelupon the ground, u member movably supported b said frame, Litter armspivoted upon sai member and euch having a rotuliible cutter adapted totravel upon the ground, bars controlling i-iiid cutter arms, menus forholding sind bars in a plurality of positions, a henger spaced fromsziiii member, nieans for resiliently, holding .su id hunger inposition, runners oarried by .said hanger, fixed cutters arranged iibovesaid runners, and means for opera-- tively conneeting said member andsaid hanger.

9. In a harvester of the class described, :i frame adapted to travelupon the ground, a

i member supported by said frame and. arranged to swing in a pluralityof directions cutter arms pvoted u on seid members an each having erotatu le cutter adapted to tu vel upon the ground, bars nttahed to saidurine and tontrolling the same, means for holding snid bers in eplurality of positions, resilient iiieims for normali forcin said barsdownward to hold sei cutters in engu ement with the ground, u hangeradjustab y arranged adjacent to said member, rosilieni'. means fornormally holding saldi hanger in position, s :iced runners carried bySuid hanger nt'tie lower end thereof, ixed eut-ters arrangedV above saidrunners und udn ted to be adjusted with 1 t to one anot er, and meansfor o rative y coniieetiii said member and sai honger.

iriime adapted to travel upon the ound und having a plow pivotallycarried t ereby, n member pivotnlly supported by said frame und arrangedto swin in a plurality of directions, cutter arms pivoted upon sindmember and each having a rotatable cutter ad apted to travel u on theground, u plate carried by said p ow and rovided with slots,

projecting through said slots of said plate, springs secured to saidbars and engaging said plate, nieiins for holding said bars in aplurality ofV positions with respect to said plete, an inverted U-shapedhanger stradtlling said plow unil having a bnse'platve at the lower endthereof, runners ad]ustabl secured to said base plate, fixed cutters:idyjiistahly curried by Said hanger above said jriinners, nieiuis forresilieiitly supporting sniil hunger upon said plow, and links operliitively und pivotally connecting said meml livr und s-'iid hilfiger,

In testimony whereof I have. signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two siiliwribino witnesses. g HAS. M. MCCORMICK. 'IWitnesses: i J. B. PEARCE,

Jnssm P. CMN.

10. n aV harvester of the class described, a. i

bui-s secured respective y to said arms and

